Liquid level signal for tanks



I United States Patent [111 3,543,779

[7 Inventor Edmund 2,690,155 9/1954 Cary,Jr 141 95x 87 W-0flkShJarmingflale, 11735 2,935,099 5/1960 Haynes 141/95 [21] App 833,9442,972,362 2/1961 Gardner..... l16/l09X [22] Filed June 17, 19693,136,295 6/1964 Gramu 73/294X [45] Patented 22,1970 PrimaryExaminerLouis R. Prince Assistant Examiner-Daniel M. Yasich 54 LIQUIDLEVEL SIGNAL ma TANKS Attorney-Allison Collard 5 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

l41/95 ABSTRACT: A liquid level signalling device for use with sub- [51l ID11- Clmerged or fuel tanks which is coupled to the line of ofSearchthe tank below the grQund level and includes a 4l/95; 222/ disposedalarm tube which may be raised above the ground level while the tank isbeing filled to permit the audible alarm References C'ted to be heard inall directions. The alarm tube may then be UNIT ED TA PATENTS pushedbelow the ground level after the delivery has been 2,140,559 12/1938Scully et al. 116/109 completed so that no portion of the liquid levelsignalling 2,548,734 4/1951 Mathey l 16/ l 09X device remains disposedabove the ground.

3 G I F INVI'JL'I (1/4. EDMUND T. GREEN My, QMLQ ATTORNEY This inventionrelates to signalling devices used in filling liquid storage tanks.

More specifically, this invention relates to signalling devices for usewith fill pipes which are connected to tanks adapted to have liquidpumped through the fill pipe, so that an audible signal will indicatethe rise of the liquid level to a predetermined height in the tank.

Conventional liquid level signalling devices are generally utilized indomestic fuel tanks for residences wherein the tank and fill pipes arereadily accessible for modifying the tanks to include the alarm device.In tanks which are submerged or buried underground, it is not alwaysconvenient to dig up the tank in order to insert fill alarm devices. Inorder to add alarm devices to submerged or buried tanks, it has beenknown to include a temporary attachment which connects to the fill lineof the submerged tank, which will give off an audible alarm as the tankis being filled. These attachments however have been found to beunreliable and often become misplaced or lost when they are neededduring the filling of the tank.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a liquid level alarm devicefor use with submerged or buried tanks which can be easily connected tothe fill pipe of the tank just below the ground level. When the tank isbeing filled, the alarm device may be raised above the ground level sothat it is audible in all directions in order to detect the level of theliquid or fuel in the tank. The bottom portion of the alarm extends ashort distance into the top of the tank when it is fully raised for use,so that when the level of the liquid covers over the bottom of the alarmtube, the alarm will cease to operate and indicate that the liquid levelhas almost reached the top of the tank. This will indicate to deliverypersonnel that no further liquid should be added to the tank so that theinput lines may be disconnected from the fill line and the alarm pusheddown into the tank so that its top portion comes to rest below theground level. No portion of the fill alarm device remains above theground level after it has been used.

It is therefore an object according to the present invention to providea liquid level alarm device which is capable of detecting the level ofthe liquid in a submerged or buried tank.

It is another object according to the present invention to provide aliquid level signalling device, which, when connected to the fill lineof a submerged or buried tank, can be raised in place for operationabove the ground level so as to produce an audible alarm in alldirections.

It is a further object according to the present invention to provide aliquid level signalling device which is simple in design, easy tomanufacture, and reliable in operation.

Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparentfrom the following detailed description considered in connection withthe accompanying drawing which discloses one embodiment of the presentinvention. It is to be understood, however, that the drawing is designedfor the purpose of illustration only, and not as a definition of thelimits of the invention.

In the drawing, wherein similar reference characters denote similarelements throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, partly in cross section, of the liquidlevel signalling device according to the invention, raised in height foroperation;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along section 2-2 of FIG. I; and,

FIG. 3 is an additional side view, partly in cross section, of theembodiments of FIGS. 1 and 2.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a submerged or buried fueltank 20 having a threaded opening 23 on a portion of its top which issurrounded by flange 21 for receiving a correspondingly threaded fillpipe 18. Connected to the top portion of fill pipe 18 is an expandedadapter 16, for receiving an extension of the fill pipe consisting of athreaded pipe 15 and coupling 13 connected to pipe 15. On one side ofadapter 16 is slidably disposed an alarm tube 10 consisting of a hollowtube which extends through fill pi e 18 into the top of tank 20. The topportion of alarm tube is sealed off by means of cap 11,

and includes a whistle hole 12 which is communicative to the internalchamber of tube 10. Tube 10 is slidably disposed through a captive nut17 which is retained on the top surface of adapter 16. Captive nut 17can be tightened to prevent tube 10 from sliding within adapter 16 so asto maintain tube 10, whistle opening 12 above ground level 14 when thetank is being filled. Secured adjacent to the bottom of tube 10 is astop 19 which prevents tube 10 from being raised above a certain level.Below stop 19 is an extension 24 of tube 10, integrally formedtherewith, and of a predetermined length so that extension 24 remainsdisposed within tank 20 at all times.

When a liquid, such as fuel oil, is pumped into the tank throughcoupling 13 and fill pipe 18, a portion of the air exiting from the tankenters into opening 22 of tube 10 and creates a loud audible whistlingnoise as it emerges from opening 12. When the level of the fuel coversover opening 22, no further air will emerge from hole 12 so that theaudible whistle will cease. Tube extension 24 is of sufficient length togive the delivery personnel enough time to shut down the flow of fueloil before the tank contents overflow. After the delivery has beencompleted, captive nut 17 is unloosened, and tube 10 is pushed downwardso that its cap portion 11 will come to rest below the level of ground14. The contact of fuel oil against the walls of tube 10 also serve tolubricate its passage through captive nut 17. This makes the signallingdevice of the invention very reliable and simple in operation.

While only a single embodiment of the invention has been shown anddescribed, it will be understood that many changes and modifications maybe made thereunto without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention.

I claim: I

l. A liquid level signalling device for coupling to the fill pipe of astorage tank comprising:

adapter means having its bottom portion connected to the top of the fillpipe, said adapter means having an offset opening communicative to theopening of the fill pipe;

a second fill pipe connected to the offset opening of said adaptermeans; and

alarm tube means having a hollow tube slidably disposed through the saidadapter means into the fill pipe, said tube means including an openingdisposed adjacent to its top portion for permitting the exit gases ofthe tube to escape and produce an audible signal.

2. The device as recited in claim 1 wherein said alarm tube meansadditionally comprises a cap secured to its top portion for closing offsaid portion.

3. The device as recited in claim 1 wherein said alarm tube meansadditionally comprises a stop secured adjacent to the bottom of the tubefor preventing its withdrawal from the tank.

4. The device as recited in claim 3 wherein said alarm tube meansadditionally comprises lock means for demountably securing said tubemeans to said adapter means.

5. The alarm device as recited in claim 4 wherein said lock meanscomprises a captive nut having said alarm tube means disposed throughits axis for locking against the walls of the tube.

